I’ve been a part of the Foxsports.com blogging community for about two years now. In that time, I’ve made some good friends. Lisa, Marty, Pete_Nice, KSP, Hoit, Tophatal and Bluegrass have all befriended me and stimulated some good conversation, not only about sports and about life in general.
Despite discussions and best laid plans, rarely do we get the chance to actually meet our blog-rades in person.
Well, my friends, that’s about to change this weekend as everyone’s favorite New Orleans native, GambitXXX, rolls into town.
Extra large bottle of Jack Daniels? Check.
Flu shot? Check.
Les Miles voodoo doll complete with pins? Check.
I confirmed with Gambit today that he’ll be rolling into town on his trolley car Friday just in time for happy hour. In much the same way that LSU defensive tackle Ricky Jean-Francois vowed to take Tim Tebow out of the game, Gambit has assured me the whiskey-infused weekend would start immediately upon his arrival and continue New Orleans style through Sunday. Both Timmy T and I will assuredly use these threats (promises) as inspirational bulletin board material.
When I asked Gambit if he wanted to get inside Florida Field to see the game, he quickly responded in his Cajun tone “Duuude, I been to the Swamp. Just find me a bar to watch the game.” A man after my own heart. Unbeknownst to him, I have just the place in mind: the dive bar formerly known as the Purple Porpoise, somewhat appropriate as I’m sure Gambino will be wearing his finest purple and gold. Someone alert the co-eds.
So, blogosphere, stay tuned as I’m sure you’ll be hearing about the hazy, smoke-filled, alcohol-drenched weekend that was… as soon as Gambit and I have recovered enough to put it down on paper. Well, at least you’ll hear the PG-13 rated version. And yes, jail cells will be avoided at all costs.
I got a call yesterday from an old friend who was in a bind. He currently lives out west, but used to work with me here in Gainesville back in the day. He called to tell me that he recently tried to renew his drivers license, but was flagged for failure to pay child support, even though he hasn’t legally been required to pay it for years. His kid’s all grown up. Glitch in the system.
Anyway, as he’s in Irvine, California, home of the Anteaters, and I’m in Gainesville, home of the one-loss Florida Gators, he needed someone to run to a local Department of Motor Vehicles - everybody’s favorite place to visit - and pay a $47.50 fine for him so that he could reinstate his license. Clearly a pain in the rear, but as I had nothing to do this afternoon but pretend the Florida-Ole Miss game never happened, I figured what the heck. A friend in need is a friend DMV’ed.
So I’m at the DMV, waiting the obligatory forty-five minutes to an hour before my number is called, when suddenly a great looking, blonde-haired, blue-eyed college girl walks into the place to renew her license. Keep in mind, this is Gainesville, Florida; such sights are not uncommon. Contrary to popular belief, girls DO in fact grow on trees here. Or at least they arrive by the boatload every semester.
Upon viewing said college girl, the middle-aged gentleman behind the counter, who had taken his good old time coming back from his break, acted as if he had never seen a female before, or if he had, it had been a very long time. His trainee, maybe in his mid-twenties and not totally un-presentable, stood there staring, tongue hanging well out of his mouth. I kept wanting to tell the guy to blink and snap out of it. The senior employee, in all likelihood older than this girl’s father, looked a lot like J.K. Simmons, best known for his role of J Jonah Jameson in the Spiderman movies. Trust me, this girl was out of Tobey Maguire’s league, so there was no way Jonah was getting a piece. The only way, shape or form a girl of this stature would ever even entertain the idea of talking to a guy like this would be… if he worked at the DMV and she needed to renew her license. I mean, it’s not like he’s Houston Nutt who can apparently do anything he wants to in Gainesville these days.
Jonah soon started to pour on the DMV charm sickeningly thick, as if to say to his trainee, “Look, bra, I got this,” all the while wearing his wedding ring. He commented on her smile as he took her drivers license photo and continued to drop other borderline inappropriate comments in a what I thought was supposed to be a professional setting. Guess not. It wasn’t an Isiah Thomas sexual harassment suit, but it wasn’t far from it. I was partially intrigued to hear what bile he could muster up next, much like being unable to turn my head from a train wreck or an 86-yard Shay Hodge pass play that got away. He continued on, keeping her at his counter as long as he could without starting a riot inside the DMV. Ah…. the DMV, a constant source of entertainment, although probably not what Terrell Owens meant when he told us to get our popcorn ready.
When my number was finally called an eternity later, I got up to the counter and you’ll never guess what happened... the woman behind the counter started flirting with ME!! I thought to myself, what is this… the most undersexed group of civil servants ever assembled? Imagine the house parties these guys must have. Are they not getting enough at home? Should I have brought lotions? I half expected them to dim the lights, throw on a strobe and start spinning some Barry White. I didn’t realize condoms were now a requirement for the random DMV visit.
Look, I’m no hater, unless of course we’re talking about the decision to give the ball to your QB seven yards behind the line of scrimmage when you only need one. Come on to whomever you want to as long as I don’t have to be subjected to it for hours. Watching this guy in action was more painful than watching another missed Gator extra point. I understand that the benefits of working at the DMV are few and far between. It’s not like they get free points on their licenses for being faithful employees. I don’t fault the guy for being flirtatious with a young college girl, but not if it’s going to come at the expense of everyone else sitting there waiting to take care of their business. Keep it professional. After all, any impending sexual harassment charge just means one less person at the counter and longer lines at the DMV.
Since I’m Tampa for the weekend, dog-sitting for my folks, I decided it would be in my best interest to attend Friday night’s USF-Kansas game at the New Sombrero. While my friends wanted to go to Sunday’s Bucs-Falcons contest, for some reason I had a feeling the Friday night college game would be a little more exciting of an atmosphere. If you had the good fortune of watching this game, it’s safe to say I was right on the money.
As I plan to watch the Ohio State-USC game this weekend with two rabid Buckeye fans (is there any other kind), to support their cause, I thought I’d re-up my currently inactive (due to lack of funds) sports book account. It’s not necessarily that I think the Beanie-less Buckeyes can, or will, win. It’s just not that often that you see a +360 moneyline for the number 5 team in the nation. I figure, if the Buckeyes lose, at least I can somewhat pretend to commiserate with my peeps. And if they win, I’ll be able to buy them a scarlet cocktail or two to celebrate.
Although I didn’t have any money in my account, the gentleman on the phone told me, that based on my recent activity, I had qualified for a $50 free play. Since I was going to the USF-Kansas game anyway, and since I thought that line was off kilter, I decided to lay the fifty beans on Kansas and take the 4. Are you kidding me? A 12-1 Big 12 team, a four-point underdog to a team that lost three straight conference games last year and doesn’t even play in its own stadium? I’ll take the points. Far be it from me to question the mathematician, sports-genius freaks that set these Vegas lines. I just thought Kansas was the better team.
Raymond James was rockin’ to a crowd of nearly 59,000 rambunctious and frequently tipsy, green-clad fans. For a second, I thought I was in Eugene, Oregon for a Ducks game.
Not too long after the game began, though, the place became quiet. After the first quarter, Kansas was up 10-0 and would eventually lead 20-3. The game was in hand, as was my bet. Kansas QB Todd Reesing looked in total control as he led KU scoring drives on four of the first five possessions. On the flipside, USF only scored on one of its first five. Considering I had four points to spare and KU had added a 17-point cushion, I was feeling pretty comfortable about my wager. The bourbon I had snuck into the stadium was flowing freely.
That was until KU coach Mark Mangino appeared to eat his playbook, along with a pizza, a double cheeseburger or two, a healthy dose of potato salad and a milk shake to wash it all down. I mean seriously, can this guy get any more rotund?
USF suddenly began to take control of the ballgame. After a Matt Grothe rushing touchdown minutes before heading into the locker room, USF soon looked Kansas-like, scoring on their first four possessions of the second half, three of which were touchdowns. Their newly inspired defense forced four straight Kansas three-and-outs. Chants of “U-S-F” filled the venue.
Suddenly, my four points didn’t seem all that safe, if good at all. Kansas had squandered a 20-3 lead and allowed USF to score 31 unanswered. I left my seat, taking solace in the fact that it was a free play anyway. With ten minutes to play and USF leading 34-20, the wager was a river of darkness. I headed toward the door. It wasn’t that I didn’t want USF to win. I just wanted them to win by three or less.
Then Mangino must’ve seen a Hot Doughnuts Now sign at the end of the tunnel because all of the sudden, he started calling some plays. On consecutive possessions, Reesing returned to his Heisman-contending form and led Kansas down the field for consecutive touchdowns. Are you kidding me? Only minutes ago this game was over, done with, kaput. Kansas was getting called for useless personal foul calls and too-many-men-on-the-field penalties. It didn’t look as if they had conceded. They were just being beaten… soundly.
But a big play or two later and Kansas had miraculously tied the game at 34. The contest was back on, as was my wager.
At times during this game, both offenses were flawless, making timely big plays. Reesing passed for 373 yards on 34-of-51 attempts. Not to be outdone, USF QB Matt Grothe was 32-of-45 for 338. That’s over 700 yards of passing, folks. Kansas had TWO receivers, Jonathan Wilson and Kerry Meier, each with over 100 yards. Someone call Steve Spurrier and remind him what his offense used to look like.
But in a game characterized by its offense, ultimately it was the defense that turned the tide. Kansas had the ball back in its own territory and was driving with less than a minute left in the game. After getting two first downs and needing not all that much more yardage to get into field goal range, Reesing let fly an ill-advised pass that was intercepted by safety Nate Allen.
Now keep in mind, I had no allegiance to either team and was there just to witness some good football and soak up the atmosphere. Little did I know what I was in for. With my four-point cushion, I had seen one roller coaster of a contest. It was like betting heavy on every single dealt hand of poker, only to call re-raises with nothing in your hand. Sometimes you’ll hit that flop, but more often than not, you’ll be watching your chip stack dwindle or raise in uncomfortable waves. Within minutes, I had gone from feeling totally confident about my wager, to writing it off as a loss, to realizing it was back on again.
Remember, as Allen ran down the right sidelines after catching that interception, a touchdown would have cost me the game. As tens of thousands of fans screamed in excitement, I kept shouting “GET OUT OF BOUNDS!!! GET OUT OF BOUNDS!!!”
Well, he did. USF ran one more play and allowed freshman kicker Maikon Bonani, who had missed from similar distance earlier in the game, to line up for a 41-yard field goal. Needless to say, I was now USF’s biggest fan. I didn’t want overtime. With those two gun-slinging quarterbacks behind center, anything was bound to happen. My blood pressure was higher than Mangino’s, which sounds like a great Italian restaurant around the corner.
Bonani ended up making the field goal, which tailed right before curving back in between the uprights. I defy you to watch that field goal again and tell yourself that ball, after it left his foot, would give USF the victory. Well, it did. And the miniature Bonani was carried off the field on the shoulders of his teammates.
Of course, my minimal wager paled in comparison to the range of emotions felt within that locker room and among USF’s student body that had just seen its school best a legitimate Big 12 opponent. BUT, the wager did make the game significantly more enjoyable to watch. Replay it in your head, thinking you had Kansas and 4 and try to contain yourself.
So congrats to Jim Leavitt and his program for a huge non-conference victory. Congrats to the guy who told me I had fifty free dollars to play with. Congrats to the odds makers who pretty much nailed that line right on the money. And congrats to all those who dyed their hair green for the game. And remember, folks, if you do choose to wager, please do so responsibly. It might just be a worthwhile investment.
As Week Three of the college football season approaches, athletic directors nationwide have blessed us with a delectable amount of non-conference football match-ups which give the keen observer an indication as to which conference boasts the best overall talent. Non-conference play will reach it climax this Saturday night as Ohio State limps in to USC. One of these two programs has played in five of the last six national championship games. The vest against the best. And although Beanie Wells isn’t (allegedly) 100%, could we really ask for anything more?
Not to be outdone is the less heralded, non-conference match-up this Friday night that pits two, top-tier major conference teams against one another: # 13 Kansas vs #19 South Florida.
When it comes to forming opinions about the conferences and their strengths, here’s what we’ve learned so far….
USC, the best team in the Pac-10, if not the nation, went on the road to Virginia, a bottom tier ACC team, and clobbered them 52-7.
Illinois, an up-and-coming Big Ten team, played Missouri, a top-tier Big-12 team, and lost 52-42 at a neutral site in a game that wasn’t as close as the final score indicates.
Alabama, an underrated SEC team, played Clemson on a neutral site and manhandled what was largely expected to be the best team in the ACC.
MWC front-runner, Utah, went on the road to Ann Arbor and beat a mid-tier Big Ten team in Michigan.
East Carolina, a surprisingly good Conference USA team, upset traditional ACC powerhouse, Virginia Tech, then beat the highest ranked Big East team, West Virginia, the following week.
UCLA, a possible Pac-10 contender, knocked off a middle-tier SEC team, Tennessee, who traveled cross-country in their opener only to lose a heartbreaker in overtime.
Another middle tier SEC team, South Carolina, hosted a poor ACC team in NC State in the season’s opener and shut them out, 34-0.
Kentucky, a mid- to bottom-tier SEC team went on the road and beat a Brian Brohm-less Louisville team, 27-2.
Fresno State, likely the best team in the WAC, flew to New Jersey to beat up on Greg Schiano and the Ray Rice-less Rutgers Scarlet Knights, however, after last night’s home loss to UNC, which gave Butch Davis his first road victory, that Fresno State victory seems a touch less impressive. We’ll know more about Fresno State - the best college football team in the nation whose initials are FSU - this weekend when they host Wisconsin. Is there anyone who doesn’t think Schiano should have taken that Miami job when he had the chance?
We’ve seen Florida, a top-tier SEC team take care of a mid-range ACC team in Miami… at least in the fourth quarter.
And Ole Miss, a bottom-tier SEC team lost on the road to possibly the best team in the ACC in Wake Forest…. barely.
So what have we learned?
We’ve learned that PAC-10 fans still think their conference is on a par, if not better than, the SEC.
We’ve learned that the Florida-Georgia game will once again mean something.
We’ve learned that the “Big House” should no longer be called that until Michigan can win a home opener.
We’ve learned that the best teams in the ACC and the Big East are simply not that good.
We’ve learned that if Ohio State gets run off the field by USC, the Big Ten will continue to be criticized as a conference.
We’ve learned that after consecutive losses in national championship games, going into Saturday’s match-up against USC, we’ve seen a new, concerned Buckeye fan… one that harkens back to the John Cooper days prior to a big Michigan game. (Where’s the confidence, guys??)
We’ve also learned that the outcome of the OSU-USC game will likely mean that one BCS champion will come out of the conference whose team wins that game. The other will likely be the SEC Champion once again. Unless the Big 12 features an undefeated team. Then one major conference will once again be slighted.
Prepare yourself for another wild weekend, college football fans. One in which the college football landscape will simultaneously become more clear, yet more muddied.
Miami. The U. The orange and green. That silly pelican.
These images extract a nauseating reaction from Florida fans. Although currently in rebuilding mode, Miami’s place in history as one of the most successful college football programs is undeniable. Five national championships. Countless impact players that have gone on to successful, if not Hall of Fame careers in the NFL: Jim Kelly, Steve Walsh, Michael Irvin, Warren Sapp, Bernie Kosar, Vinny Testaverde, Ray Lewis, Santana Moss, Reggie Wayne, Clinton Portis and of course, Frank Gore.
Gator fans have a particularly ill relationship with ‘Canes fans… for perennially, we’ve been on the receiving end of the whoopin’.
Years ago, Miami and Florida played each other annually, as UF does now with its other in-state rival, Florida State. The game traditionally took place at the beginning of the season. But when Florida got tired of starting each year with a loss, it adjusted its schedule and removed Miami from the slate entirely. As a result, Florida hasn’t beaten Miami since 1985. Kerwin Bell was still their quarterback.
In 2002-03, the schools decided to once again reunite for a home and away. The Gators were clobbered in that first contest in the Swamp by a score of 41-16. Ken Dorsey passed for four touchdowns and Willis McGahee rushed for over 200 yards. But the following year, the Gators were in perfect position to exorcise their demons and beat Miami, in the Orange Bowl no less.
I remember it like it was yesterday. The Don Calvino and I were watching the game at the Bellagio sportsbook in Las Vegas. With the Gators up by three scores, the game was well in hand. A young Chris Leak looked like he was the second coming, the quarterback who would finally push us over the edge and ensure that a generation of long-suffering Gator fans would no longer have to listen to the relentless taunts of the ‘Canes. Miami in turn had Brock Berlin under center. The same Brock Berlin who had been recruited by Steve Spurrier. The same Brock Berlin who later transferred because he couldn’t fit the scheme. The same Brock Berlin who reportedly scored the lowest of all NFL draftees on the Wonderlic test. And yes, the same Brock Berlin who led the Miami Hurricanes from down 33-10 in the third quarter to defeat the Gators, 38-33. Berlin played the game of his life that night, passing for 340 yards and having the last laugh. It also helped that he had Frank Gore rush for 127 yards on 25 carries. Not even the Bellagio’s finest bourbon could get that taste out of my mouth.
This weekend, the Florida Gators once again face their most hated, in-state rival. No offense to Seminole fans, but in the past four years, that game has somewhat lost its luster. While Gator Nation should never look past the Seminoles, we’ve at least beaten them. I came to Gainesville in 1987. We haven’t beaten Miami that entire time. We’ve beaten Tennessee, Auburn, LSU, Florida State, Ohio State, Alabama, teams that have all won national championships in that time span. We have yet to beat the ‘Canes. It has been a LONG time comin’.
I say this not to jinx the higher-ranked Florida Gators going into this weekend’s match-up, but rather to remind Gator fans how important this non-conference game really is. Although Miami is unranked and Florida is a national title contender, Miami for decades has had our number in both the regular and post-season. I am here to say turnabout is fair play.
A victory against a less talented Miami club will do more than just add another win to Urban Meyer’s already impressive record. It will officially establish the University of Florida as the state’s premier program. It will remind the talented high school kids in South Florida that there’s a new sheriff in town. And his name is Urban Meyer. Until that victory, despite our recent success, we will remain in the shadow of the Hurricanes.
The Gators are three touchdown favorites against Miami on Saturday. I will once again be watching this highly anticipated football contest with the Don Calvino, but this time in the friendly confines of the Swamp. Bourbon will again be the beverage of choice.
We expect Florida to make us proud and continue their quest for a conference, and perhaps national title. Florida has the speed, talent and mystique Miami once had. We are the new state powerhouse. We just have to prove it on the field, once and for all.
On a day when Ohio State was leading its home opener 13-0 early and LSU led last year’s giant-killer Appalachian St by 31 points at halftime, it appeared at least early on that Hawaii would give the Florida Gators a fight. Florida won the coin toss and deferred to give Hawaii the football to start the game. The Rainbow Warriors then proceeded to drive down the field and take what seemed like a lot longer than three minutes off the clock before having to punt. The Gators were unable to score on their first possession.
Florida's first quarter woes continued as they were once again unable to stop the Rainbow Warriors on their next possession. That was until Ahmad Black ended a promising Hawaii drive with an interception in the end zone. Twelve minutes into their season, the Gators had already committed five penalties and looked like they had plenty of kinks to work out on both sides of the ball. Hawaii had controlled the ball for 8:46 of the first quarter, running 17 plays.
A thirty-four yard Tate Casey reception later and the Gators finally looked like the offense of yesteryear. Gator fans then got their first look at track star Jeffrey Demps, who scrambled for a ten yard reception. Shortly thereafter, Tim Tebow reminded the 88,000+ eager fans in the Swamp why he’s last year’s Heisman winner. From the nine yard line, Tebow scrambled right, then left, on a busted option play to score what appeared to be a touchdown. Instant replay revealed he had stepped out-of-bounds on the one yard line. One play later and eighteen minutes into their season, Tebow handed off to Brandon James who scored the first of assuredly many Gator touchdowns this season.
Less than one minute later, Florida delivered a Major Wright cross to Hawaii’s hopes as he stepped in front of Greg Alexander pass and ran it back for pay dirt for a 14-0 lead.
A flustered Hawaii soon seemed incapable of moving the football as the new-and-improved Gator defense settled in comfortably, forcing another punt. With five minutes left in the half, Brandon James reminded fans why he is one of the nation’s most exciting special teams players by returning a Hawaii punt 74 yards for a touchdown. In the very first half of their season, Florida had already scored one offensive, one defensive and one special teams touchdown.
The wheels continued to come off for Hawaii as another turnover, resulting from a play which new head coach Greg McMackin chose not to review, resulted in a touchdown from one of what promises to be Florida’s most exciting playmakers on the very next possession. A thirty-three yard touchdown run from Chris Rainey, with some outstanding blocking by Riley Cooper, allowed him to waltz into then end zone untouched. Hawaii could not get into the locker room quickly enough to grab the concessionary, white towel.
At halftime, the Gators led 28-0 with Heisman hopeful Tim Tebow accounting for none of the Gator scores.
Coming out of the locker room, the Gator offense once again stalled, as they were forced to punt on fourth and fifteen from their own 25. That was until Coach Meyer called Chas Henry’s number for a fake punt, who ran seventeen yards for the first down to keep the floodgates lodged wide open. On the very next play from scrimmage, Jeff Demps ran between the tackles, sixty-two yards to the amazement of even his coaches. And just as fans were starting to complain about Tebow’s lack of numbers, on the ensuing Gator possession, he hit Louis Murphy for a 48 yard touchdown pass for his first of the season. 42-0 Florida.
In mop-up duty, big Cam Newton added another rushing touchdown to increase the Gator lead to forty-nine. A late 80-yard interception, again by Ahman Black, gave the Gators an even 28 points in the second quarter and 28 points in the third. Even Hurricane Fay didn’t bring this much rain in North Florida. The Gators ended up victorious by the final score of 56-10.
After a rusty first quarter, the Florida Gators finally showed they dressed to impress. Even the stoic Urban Meyer was seen smiling in post-game interviews. Florida came out with something to prove and showed they’re deep at every position. The backfield, whether running the option or between the tackles, boasts a variety of superstars that could start for any other program in the nation. Four different Gators scored on the ground and none of them were named Tim Tebow. While the receiving corps remains a question mark, the backfield is talented enough to keep opposing secondaries honest. And Tebow is still the toughest quarterback in the nation to bring down. Although he only finished the game 9-for-14 for 137 yards passing and 9 carries for 37 yards, one got the impression he’s only getting his feet wet. This Florida team won’t need him like they did last season. Special teams also played well and Brandon James proved he’s a constant threat. The Gator defense, a question mark all of last season, forced six turnovers and led many to believe Charlie Strong has turned things around. Hawaii led in time of possession, only because the Gator offense continue to score at a rapid-fire face. Including interception and punt returns, the Gators had five scoring possessions under :38 seconds.
The Gators face University of Miami Hurricanes next weekend in Gainesville at 8 pm in front of what could be a record crowd. The Gators have not beaten their in-state rivals in nearly thirty years.
Football season is upon us and, once again, Urban Meyer and the Florida Gators field a team with national championship aspirations. While they’ll only admit to setting their sights on an SEC crown, a BCS bid would likely go hand in hand with that accomplishment.
Last year, only one year removed from winning the second national championship in school history, the Gators (9-4) had what, by their standards, could be considered a disappointing season. While featuring a quarterback who had arguably the most productive season in college football history, the Gators were still saddled with several weaknesses, including a porous and inexperienced secondary and an inconsistent rushing attack.
The 2008-9 season brings another year of promise to the Gainesville faithful as the Tim Tebow-led Florida Gators have as good a chance as anyone to bring home a conference and potentially national title.
Quarterbacks: Tim Tebow has become the poster boy for college football. After a record-setting season in which he became the first quarterback to both rush and throw for twenty touchdowns, Tebow is in position to become only the second player behind Ohio State’s Archie Griffin to win back-to-back Heisman trophies. Such a task will not be easy. Not only will he continue to have a target on his back, he likely will not have the carries he did last year. Nor will Coach Meyer want to keep him in harm’s way. With seemingly unlimited options in the backfield, Tebow will see decreased carries and likely an increase in pass attempts. Redshirt Freshman John Brantley are Cameron Newton continue to battle for the back-up role with Brantley leading the way ever so slightly. Neither should see serious playing time unless Tebow gets hurt or the Gators hold a considerable lead in any given contest.
Backfield: The Gator backfield may be as talented and as deep as it’s ever been. Florida features speed, speed and more speed. And with Meyer’s lack of tolerance for the fumble, he will look to platoon whoever can hold on to the football until deciding on a feature back. With Percy Harvin still recovering from an ankle injury, USC transfer Emmanuel Moody will likely get the bulk of the carries. However, with Kestahn Moore, Mon Williams, the lightning quick Chris Rainey and even Brandon James, Meyer and Tebow will have a full arsenal of weapons from which to choose. The question is not whether they’ll be able to score, but whether they’ll be able to control enough clock after consistently running past their opponents.
Receiving Corps: Florida was dealt a blow when they lost Cornelius Ingram to injury, but as is the case at most big play positions, Florida simply reloads. Aaron Hernandez and Tate Casey will catch the bulk of the passes from the tight end position and Louis Murphy is ready to step into the role as senior leader of the wide receivers. With an ailing Percy Harvin, Meyer will either have to get imaginative or hope that some of his youth will step up to contribute some big plays.
Offensive Line: The Gators stand 6’3” to 6’6” and weigh 310 lbs across the board. Phil Trautwein, Jason Watkins and Jim Tartt are all seniors and twin brothers Mike and Maurkice Pouncey shore up the rest of the line. Tim Tebow is tough enough to bring down as it is. With that amount of protection, he should have plenty of time to hit his wide open speedsters.
Defense: Much is expected out of sophomore defensive end Carlos Dunlap. He played like a man possessed in this spring’s Orange and Blue game, leading the team with four sacks. With the departure of Derrick Harvey, junior DE Jermaine Cunningham, Jr. will provide Florida with some well-needed experience. Similarly, junior linebackers Dustin Doe and Brandon Spikes will be forces to reckon with. Spikes led the Gators with 131 tackles in 2007. If there is any area in which the Gators need to improve, however, it is their secondary. The 2006-7 national championship defense set the bar high, which last year’s youth as of yet has failed to live up to. Even with another year under their belt, the secondary is still young. Wondy Pierre-Louis is the only junior. Sophomore Joe Haden shores up the other side of the field. Safety Major Wright proved to be a hard hitter last season but the coaching staff will still be looking for marked improvement. While the Gators finished first in the SEC in rushing defense last year, they ranked dead last in passing yards allowed per game. If the defense is at all able to convert turnovers into touchdowns, with their already potent offense, the Gators should be a serious title contender.
Special Teams: The multi-purpose Brandon James once again highlights the Florida special teams. The 5’7” James is a highlight reel waiting to happen and is a threat to put six on the board every time he touches the ball. Kicker Jonathan Phillips is now a senior and sophomore punter Chas Henry was money in the bank last year… that is when the Gators had to punt.
Schedule:
Aug 30 – Hawaii
Sep 6 – Miami
Sep 20 - @ Tennessee
Sep 27 – Ole Miss
Oct 4 – @ Arkansas
Oct 11 – LSU
Oct 25 – Kentucky (HC)
Nov 1 – Georgia (Jacksonville, FL)
Nov 8 - @ Vanderbilt
Nov 15 – South Carolina
Nov 22 – The Citadel
Nov 29 - @ Florida State
One familiar with Florida’s traditional schedule will notice a few glaring changes. In-state rival, the University of Miami, is back on the schedule. UF hasn’t beaten Miami since 1985 and will be looking to exact decades of revenge against a rebuilding Miami team.
Traditionally, Florida would schedule two cupcake teams before their conference opener against Tennessee. This year, they have a bye the week before that contest. They have additionally abandoned their October of doom, deciding to mix in a home game instead of a month of consecutive road games that usually resulted in at least one loss. Their conference road schedule is favorable, traveling only to Knoxville, Fayetteville and Nashville. The Florida/Georgia game is held in Jacksonville at a neutral site. As always, Florida finishes its season against the Seminoles.
Outlook: While no SEC schedule can be considered easy, the Gators’ is not overly intimidating. If they can escape a tough match-up in Knoxville, they shouldn’t be seriously tested until Georgia, assuming they can handle LSU in the Swamp. The Gator offense, which finished third in the nation in scoring last year with 42.5 points per game, should put up similar numbers, meaning their defense just needs to be functional. Even with number one ranked Georgia in their division, with this amount of talent, anything less than an appearance in Atlanta for the SEC Championship game, will considered a disappointment for this Florida team.
When the original Dream Team tore through the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, it was like the Beatles reunited. With the likes of Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, David Robinson, Karl Malone, John Stockton, and Clyde Drexler suiting up, the team touted so much star power that opposing teams didn’t mind getting drubbed by over forty points a game. Although a gold medal for Team USA was a forgone conclusion before the games even began, the team was still a joy to watch. It was arguably the greatest sports team ever assembled.
It became clear to marketing wizard David Stern that the NBA could significantly expand its fan base, and revenue, by actively promoting itself overseas. As fans worldwide became more enamored with the game, the NBA soon found out that young Americans were not the only ones who wanted to ‘be like Mike.'
At that point, international competition paled in comparison to the American version. In the 1980s and early 1990s, foreign players in the NBA were few and far between. There was Detlef Schrempf, Drazen Petrovic, Rik Smits, Sarunas Marciulionus and of course, Hakeem Olajuwon. While these players were all talented, Hakeem was the only foreign player to have a significant impact on the league, having won two NBA titles with the Houston Rockets in the mid-1990s.
Fast forward to the present-day NBA and find a dramatically different league overrun with international talent. Three of the last four MVP award-winners were foreign-born (Nash in 2004-5; 2005-6 and Nowitzki 2006-7). Tim Duncan, born in the U.S. Virgin Islands, has four NBA titles. Manu Ginobili (Argentina) and Tony Parker (France) were alongside for three of them. Andrew Bogut (Australia), Andrea Bargnani (Italy), Michael Olowokandi (Nigeria) and Yao Ming (China) were all number one draft picks.
In the past, there were few, if any, Latin players. And zero Asian players. Now the league features possibly the most recognizable athlete in the world in Yao Ming. International competition has proven it is currently on par with the Americans. The game has truly become global.
To date, the league has benefited from the influx. Until now.
The NBA has recently seen one of its players leave overseas. Former Atlanta Hawk Josh Childress recently made news when he announced he was signing with the Greek professional team, Olympiakos, for three years and twenty million dollars. While Childress is far from a big name and has largely failed to live up to his potential, other athletes of note have also opted for international waters. University of Arizona recruit Brandon Jennings decided to join the Italian professional league instead of going to college. And during the recent Beijing Olympics, both LeBron James and Kobe Bryant have hinted that they would at least entertain the idea of playing overseas if the offer was on the table. There was talk of international teams dangling as much as $50 million to top tier athletes to woo them overseas.
The NBA has a rich tradition and is currently in great shape. Despite still struggling with image issues, this year’s Lakers-Celtics Finals garnered the highest ratings in recent memory. The league’s talent and star power are arguably at an all-time high. The NBA still features the greatest basketball players in the world. That being said, could the league survive an exodus of one of its biggest names?
This is not the first time the NBA faced competition from a rival league. In the 1970s, the ABA gave the NBA a run for its money. The ABA was able to pay more for college athletes and landed such big names as Rick Barry, Louie Dampier, George Gervin, Connie Hawkins, Spencer Haywood and of course, Julius Erving. Since the ABA was able to throw more money at young college stars, the NBA had difficulty competing for the nation’s best college athletes, often losing out. Many considered the ABA’s talent on a par with, if not better than, the NBA. Ultimately, the NBA won over and forced the ABA to merge. Yet, the ABA offered players something the NBA could not. International leagues may be poised to do the same.
The NBA’s salary cap, which is adjusted every year, does not allow for a team to sign one player anything close to what certain international leagues are rumored to be offering. The entire team salary cap for the 2008-9 season will be $58.68 million, nowhere close to the purported $50 mil Olympiakos wants to offer King James. And while most star athletes make up for their (lack of) league salary through endorsements, what’s to say those same deals would not exist abroad. After all, McDonalds, Coca-Cola and Nike all do fairly well overseas.
While players like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James might yearn to be considered the best to ever play the game, accomplishing that feat now means having to win six NBA titles a la Michael Jordan. Accomplishing that with the parity in the league these days is a near impossibility. Most scoring titles are out of reach as well. Kareem Adbul Jabbar is the league’s leading scorer after playing for twenty seasons. He also holds six MVP trophies. Both those records are likely unattainable considering LeBron hasn’t won one yet and Kobe just won his first.
So what is a player’s incentive to remain in the NBA? The league’s rich tradition? The hopeless quest to chase the legacy of Michael Jordan? Dealing with a commissioner who won't allow them to wear a hat backwards or play basketball until completing two years of college? Kobe and LeBron owe the league nothing. If anything, the league owes them for its success. Remember, even Michael took two years off from the league to pursue other endeavors. Television ratings dropped as a result.
The league potentially has a serious problem on its hands. Forget Brett Favre leaving the Packers. If Kobe Bryant were to leave the NBA, that would be the sports story of the decade. We’re not talking about a veteran player opting to finish his career elsewhere. We’re talking about one of the greatest talents the game has ever seen thumbing his nose at the league in his prime. It would serve as a harsh reminder to most ethnocentric Americans that our brand is not the best, or at least we can’t afford it.
David Stern will soon be faced with some difficult choices. It is now Stern who will have to make adjustments, and the NCAA and/or multinational corporations may have to be involved. Athletes are free to do as they please, unless they’re locked in to a contract, which LeBron won’t be in 2010. This is a huge bargaining chip for the players’ union. While the NBA has pushed for a franchise overseas, Stern may have to take a closer look at how the league now interacts with rival international leagues, possibly doing so on its own terms to ensure it does not cost them an exodus of talent. Although the Association is currently thriving, it can likely not cope, if even survive, if Kobe and/or LeBron James leave the league. Take a look at how PGA television ratings and attendance drop when Tiger Woods isn’t on tour. While the NBA has more balanced star power and a more exciting product than the PGA, losing its biggest name(s) would undoubtedly have a devastating impact.
Of course, this could all just be talk. Those offers might not be on the table. Today’s player might have a change of heart and realize that the NBA is where they belong, for it made them into the stars they are today. After all, there’s loyalty in business, right? In the end, all it will take is one big signature on the dotted line to reverse all the good that Stern’s international impetus has brought to the NBA.
The sunshine state has long been a hotbed for college football. With an abundance of high school talent leaving for college every year, Florida schools have their pick of the litter of some of the nation’s best athletes. For as long as anyone can remember, at least one of the big three (Florida, Florida State and Miami) has been a factor in the national championship picture. In the past ten years, all three of these schools have won national titles: Florida State in 1999, Miami in 2001 and Florida in 2006. During that same time period, however, these three schools have traversed dramatically different paths to arrive at their current circumstance. Furthermore, in a state where most believed that no other schools could compete in either recruiting or ranking, the Universities of Central and South Florida have both become presences in their own right.
Flash back to 1998, if you will. Florida State was about to embark on the greatest season in the school’s history. In 1999, Bobby Bowden coached his Seminoles to an undefeated season and an ultimate victory over the Michael Vick-led Virginia Tech Hokies. Steve Spurrier was still coaching at Florida, but after winning a national championship only several years prior, the Ol’ Ball Coach seemed to have lost his edge on the Swamp’s sidelines. The Washington Redskins would soon come calling. Miami, under Butch Davis, was just starting to recover from athletic sanctions suffered by the Dennis Erickson regime. Larry Coker would take over in 2001, leading Miami to a perfect 12-0. Coker took them back to the championship game in 2003, only to lose to in overtime to Ohio State. At Central Florida, Mike Kruczek took over as head coach for a program that had only joined Division 1-A a few years earlier. Similarly, South Florida’s fledgling football program had only begun in 1997 under the tutelage of a young Jim Leavitt.
In 2008, it is safe to say the script has been flipped for all five programs. Florida State is far from the powerhouse it was in the 1990s. A team that once dominated the Atlantic Coast Conference, winning its first nine, consecutive conference titles, has not won an ACC crown since 2005. The school continues to have off-the-field problems with its student athletes. Their traditional dominance over Florida has also waned, having dropped four straight meetings. All this has some Seminole faithful questioning whether Bobby Bowden should finally hand over the reins to his successor. The Gators, on the other hand, are in fine shape. After going 23-14 and winless in a bowl in three years under Ron Zook, the Florida faithful became impatient. Zook, ever the master recruiter, left the cupboard loaded with talent and when Florida signed Urban Meyer from Utah in 2004, Meyer led that talent to the mountaintop. Florida is still right where it wants to be, consistently competing alongside the top programs in the nation. For the second time in three years, Florida is poised to contend for a national title. Miami joined the ACC in 2004, but has yet to win a conference title in that time. Miami is currently rebuilding under young head coach Randy Shannon. Last year, for the first time in ten years, Miami failed to reached a bowl game Although they have faced some difficulties recently, they appear to be headed in the right direction with Shannon, but rest assured ‘Canes fans won’t settle for too many more sub-.500 seasons. Just making a bowl is not good enough for the University of Miami. Since joining Conference USA in 2005, Central Florida has already won two titles. In 2007, South Florida was the highest ranked Florida school, climbing as high as #2 in the nation. These two schools are starting to develop a healthy in-state rivalry. While obviously not holding the same firepower or hype as when two of the big three meet, there is still plenty of talent on the field. Both UCF and USF have proven they can play with any school in the nation. Miami may find that out this season as they host Central Florida on October 11.
For four of the five schools, the future is bright. Florida continues to scour the nation for top talent. Nobody would be surprised is Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow leads the Gators to another title. Miami will have its hands full in the ACC, but should ultimately return to competitiveness under Shannon. That will be no easy task as long as Clemson and Virginia Tech continue to field national championship contenders. UCF and USF will continue their ascent to prominence. However, Florida State may face more difficult times before any return to glory. Bobby Bowden can obviously write his own ticket coaching in the stadium that bears his name. Offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher has been tagged as his successor, but Bowden has set no definite timetable for his retirement. Extended mediocrity for this program might warrant an exit sooner rather than later. Nobody expects him to coach all that much longer, however repeated losses to Florida combined with Joe Paterno continuing to chalk up wins on the sidelines rivaling Bowden’s all-time wins might just extend his time on the sidelines. One thing for sure, once considered one of the most intriguing match-ups of the calendar year, the Florida State-Miami rivalry has been relegated to just another regular season game.
The state of Florida remains a football factory. While the Florida Gators are clearly in the best shape of the five schools, Urban Meyer knows he can not rest on his laurels. Miami is back on their regular schedule renewing the rivalry and the Gators haven’t beaten them in over twenty years. It should be som
